Author Topic: The end of FM as we know it  (Read 10546 times)

Offline confused

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The end of FM as we know it
« on: August 03, 2011, 07:19:04 PM »
I am sitting here fondly recalling FM in the old days, especially before it went commercial.  In those days I was a budding audiophile and loved the stereo and better frequency resxponse.  Programming was unbelieivable in those days, since there was no commercial incentive to play to any specific audience.  Often you would get whole albums uninterrupted.  Today, FM plays the same dreck as AM did in the old days.  Music is sliced and diced and categorized to death, then interrupted by puerile DJs and obnoxious commercials.

This whole train of thought was started when a buddy told me that a friend of his was dumping his tuner collection, because there are no more radio stations in Chicago worth listening to.  All the programming has been taken over by the syndicates with the music coming from hard drives, heavily compressed to save space.

Finally if this is the fate of Chicago, how much longer until PGH ends up in the same boat!  We already lost DUQ. :'(  Is QED or YEP next?    :(

I will finish with a plea to support local radio while it still exists.
« Last Edit: August 03, 2011, 11:29:58 PM by confused »
Dale

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Bunni

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Re: The end of FM as we know it
« Reply #1 on: August 03, 2011, 08:14:43 PM »
My Dad broadcast a classical music show from MIT in Cambridge, MA back in the early 70's called Cantate Domino.  It was WTBS back before the Superstation took over the call letters from MIT.  He played actual albums, whole albums and actually discussed what was to be heard.  No commercials other than a public service announcement here and there.

It's sad, all this commercialism, and I agree; support local radio!

Offline schwarcw

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Re: The end of FM as we know it
« Reply #2 on: August 03, 2011, 10:50:23 PM »
We already lost DUQ. :'( 

What is worse, it will become a propaganda source for the left wing progessives.  Public radio unbiased my ass! >:
Carl

Offline Sir Thrift-a-Lot

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Re: The end of FM as we know it
« Reply #3 on: August 03, 2011, 11:05:55 PM »
YEP bought DUQ.   YEP is great and they aren't going anywhere any time soon.   

@ schwarcw:   public radio used to be unbiased until Dubya installed Kenneth Tomlinson.   Now NPR leans slightly right though I give DUQ a lot of credit for remaining neutral.   The only place in Pittsburgh to hear "left wing propaganda" is on a two hour morning show carried by one of the college stations (perhaps CMU, but I don't recall for sure) called "Democracy Now".   Given the abundance of fascist propaganda on both dials, I can't see what you have to complain about.

Offline Sir Thrift-a-Lot

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Re: The end of FM as we know it
« Reply #4 on: August 03, 2011, 11:07:08 PM »
BTW, typing in big letters doesn't make you correct.   Just thought you should know.

Offline confused

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Re: The end of FM as we know it
« Reply #5 on: August 03, 2011, 11:29:30 PM »
I have no problem with talk radio, left or right.  No matter which way you lean, it is important to know what the other side thinks.  I listen to both and find that I occasionally agree with "the other side".  BUT, why waste the quality of the FM band with talk!!  Put it in on AM where it belongs.

And while I am on the subject, digital radio sucks too.  If I want to listen to MP3, I will turn on my computer, or listen to what passes for "CD quality" music on theTV.
Dale

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Offline Sir Thrift-a-Lot

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Re: The end of FM as we know it
« Reply #6 on: August 04, 2011, 12:18:08 AM »
I completely agree.   I had a rental recently with XM in it.   I literally couldn't even listen to the thing.

Offline schwarcw

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Re: The end of FM as we know it
« Reply #7 on: August 04, 2011, 12:22:45 AM »
BTW, typing in big letters doesn't make you correct.   Just thought you should know.

Of course it don't me correct, my response is large and bold to express my emotion and some frustration.  I believe the Country as a whole is center leaning right.  WYEP new broadcast and some of their special programs are far from center.  The Environmental Front, Gay and Lebian programming and some of the news stories are too skewed.  I don't think that Christian or orthodox Hebrew music and programming need to be there either.  Nor do I think that Rush and Glen Beck should be there.  The news and special programming should report a balanced perspective My concern is the new owners and management continue some fo the WYEP programing.  Which in my opinion, is not balanced.  Only time will tell.
Carl

Offline schwarcw

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Re: The end of FM as we know it
« Reply #8 on: August 04, 2011, 12:27:18 AM »
I have no problem with talk radio, left or right.  No matter which way you lean, it is important to know what the other side thinks.  I listen to both and find that I occasionally agree with "the other side".  BUT, why waste the quality of the FM band with talk!! 

I agree also!  Currently, WYEP does a poor job of this.  The Board and Chairman of WYEP are now running the programming and I assume the content of the news programming at WDUQ.
Carl

Offline Bill Cain

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Re: The end of FM as we know it
« Reply #9 on: August 04, 2011, 12:59:40 AM »
LOL

That's why there's a dial.  Don't listen to what you don't like.   ;D

Bill Cain

Offline confused

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Re: The end of FM as we know it
« Reply #10 on: August 04, 2011, 01:21:08 AM »
WYEP is independant and run by Pittsburgh Community Broadcasting Corporation, while DUQ was bought out by a conglomerate Essential Public Media (EPM) in a partnership with WYEP.  From what I understand EPM has control over programming, and modeled it after WBEZ in Chicago. 

I think Ferraro has almost ruined WYEP, removing all the cool late night programming.  If they stop broadcasting blues, that will be the end of the station. 

I was an avid listener and a member for years before they went off the air, and have not been a really big fan since their return.  Hell, I still miss Buck Bryce in the morning!  (Anyone remember him?)

At least they still broadcast a listenable signal.
« Last Edit: August 04, 2011, 08:52:10 AM by confused »
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Offline Bill Cain

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Re: The end of FM as we know it
« Reply #11 on: August 04, 2011, 02:57:12 AM »
Yeah, and those damn duck-tailed hoodlums wanna play that race music and jump around like a bunch of monkeys.  Why, that'll be the end of western civilization, as we know it!!!!  It's them damn Commies, plotting to take us over.  We never had problems like this when real Americans listened to real American music, like Glenn Miller.  I'll never understand why we have to have 45 and 33 1/3 rpm records.  Everyone knows that 78 rpm is superior, cause it's faster.  They just want to cheat us.  Did you see the size of the hole in a 45 record?  It's shameful.

Bill Cain
« Last Edit: August 21, 2011, 01:25:05 PM by retsalB retsaM »

Offline Sir Thrift-a-Lot

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Re: The end of FM as we know it
« Reply #12 on: August 04, 2011, 05:53:36 AM »
I believe the Country as a whole is center leaning right.

I suspect this is probably true, but I don't think it beckons broadcasters to follow suit.    Truth, rather than public opinion, should be the guide.   Just as in the 1960s most Americans favored segregation, now most Americans favor unequal marriage rights, etc..   I think a good, responsible media (like the one I've heard from DUQ and seems to have remained largely in tact through the transition) has done a nice job of factually presenting both sides of a given debate.

Offline Sir Thrift-a-Lot

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Re: The end of FM as we know it
« Reply #13 on: August 04, 2011, 06:01:07 AM »
My concern is the new owners and management continue some fo the WYEP programing. 

http://www.essentialpublicradio.org/sites/default/files/program_schedules/July2011.pdf

Allegheny Front is in their line up but The Homo Show seems to have disappeared.   That should make you happy.

Anders

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Re: The end of FM as we know it
« Reply #14 on: August 04, 2011, 12:31:38 PM »
Who is paying for WDUQ now ?
It can't be listener supported.
Jazz is important to Pittsburgh.
I say bring it back!